President Putin calls on Italian PM to help improve ties between Russia, EU

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Italy to help improve a “mutually respectful relationship” between Moscow and the European Union.

On an official visit to Rome on Thursday, Putin held talks with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte as well as President Sergio Mattarella and Pope Francis.

During talks with Conte, Putin said called on him to help strengthen ties between Moscow and Brussels.

"Russia-EU relations must be developed on the basis of equality and mutual respect," Putin said.

After the one-day visit to Rome, Putin said he hopes Italy will explain to Brussels the damage that has been caused by economic sanctions imposed by the EU and the US against Russia, which he described as “losses for all.”

“European nations missed the chance to sell billions of worth of goods on the Russian market,” Putin said at a joint news conference with Conte.

The Russian leader said sanctions have cost Russia an estimated $50 billion since 2014, but according to him, EU member states have suffered even greater damage.

Conte, for his part said, Rome would act as far as possible to help restore a full relationship between Moscow and Brussels.

He also stressed that relations between Rome and the Kremlin "have a huge potential, which [the countries] should develop day by day for the sake of tomorrow, security, well-being and equality.”

In his first visit to Rome in four years, the Russian president also met with Italian Interior Minister Matteo Salvini, with whom he has had a long-time friendship.

“The League (the leading political party in Italy) and its leader Salvini are active supporters of a restoration of full cooperation between Russia and Italy,” said Putin after attending a dinner with Salvini.

“They have spoken for a quicker abolition of anti-Russia sanctions introduced by the US and EU. Here our points of view are aligned,” he added.

Regarding Moscow’s ties with Rome, Putin also told Italian daily, Corriere della Sera that the two “have a special relationship, tested by time.”

Italy, an EU founding member, has previously expressed opposition to automatic extension of several rounds of sanctions against the Moscow.

Relations between Moscow and the West have deteriorated since 2014, when the Black Sea peninsula of Crimea rejoined Russia following a referendum where more than 90 percent of participants voted in favor of the move. The West brands the reunification as annexation of Ukrainian land by Russia.

In siding with Ukraine, the EU, and some other Western countries have followed Washington's lead in leveling several rounds of sanctions against the Moscow.

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